Peter Reavill | PAS in the Marches

Jeremy Hall (1940–2011), Photographer and Friend

Over the past five years or so I have worked closely with Jeremy Hall, retired photographer of the Royal Armouries, Tower of London. His recent death is a great sadness to all that knew him. Jeremy, and his wife Jane, were regular volunteers at Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, working specifically on the arms and armour collections as well as helping with many other projects. Jeremy was also the museums unofficial ‘official’ photographer.

At heart Jeremy had a deep passion for the history of his village and the Marches in general. It is hardly surprising then that I managed to persuade him to take photos of the artefacts and coins leant to me to record with the PAS. He was always able to get the very best from an object, usually one that I had already spent an hour or so trying to get right. He was a true master of his art, always happy to help.

When working Jeremy seemed to be able to command the light and make it do his bidding; he was able to bring out the most subtle detailing within his subject with what seemed like effortless skill (which only comes with decades of experience). His studio set up was often very ‘Heath Robinson’, sheets of glass balanced, tracing paper over the very hot lights to soften their harsh shadows (or set light to the building) and scrunched up silver foil to reflect light back onto the subject. Jeremy was uncomfortable being observed, however, he worked closely with interns, trainees and other volunteers explaining his methods and passing on some of his knowledge and skill.

Jeremy was a very modest man and completely unassuming; his photos from the Armouries as well as recent work for the PAS and Shropshire Museums will stand the test of time as iconic images from a master photographer. He would be highly embarrassed by the praise which is rightly his due.

Jeremy was a lovely, kind and peaceful man, great company and cheerful as well. His dry humour was often the tonic needed to lighten the mood. He was generous with his time and he will be sorely missed. I’m glad that I met and spent time with him. I am proud to call him a friend.

Rest in Peace.

A few of Jeremy’s photos

Stone Roman figurine

The Myddle Coin Hoard

Lock Plate and Hammer on a musket in the Shropshire Museum Collection

West Shropshire Pendant, 7th century

The Talbot Vervel

I have been sent details of this press release from Shropshire Council Museum service about their recent acquisition through the Treasure Act of a silver vervel belonging to the 10th Earl of Shrewsbury – John Talbot. Not only does this release highlight the work of the PAS, and museum but it praises the finder, Frank Taylor, who has a long standing working relationship with the Museum Service which predates the PAS.

Vervel of John Talbot - Earl of Shrewsbury

The release reads:

___________________________________________

Shropshire Council’s museum service has acquired another remarkable find by local metal detectorist, Frank Taylor – a small hoop and shield that gives us a glimpse into the life of the Earl of Shrewsbury around 380 years ago.

It was acquired due to the generosity of the V&A/MLA Purchase Grant Fund and Headley Trust.

Although small, this hoop and shield are inscribed with the name IOHN TALBOT (John Talbot) and the emblazoned with a hound or ‘talbot passant’ which was the family crest of the Earls of Shrewsbury. The design and style of the lettering suggests that the owner was probably Sir John Talbot, 10th Earl of Shrewsbury (1601-54).

Sir John Talbot inherited the title, Earl of Shrewsbury, in 1630, a title somewhat disgraced by the family’s connections with Catholicism and involvement with the Gunpowder Plot. The family owned a significant estate at Pepperhill, Albrighton, not far from the field where Frank made his discovery.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for culture and leisure, said:

“Frank Taylor has been very supportive of the museum service for over thirty years and has, with the agreement of the landowners, donated many of his finds. Working with responsible metal detectorists like Frank helps us to research and display fascinating insights into Shropshire’s past. It is crucial to our work.”

Frank took his find to be recorded and identified by Peter Reavill, Finds Liasion Officer for Herefordshire and Shropshire as a vervel. Vervels are small inscribed tags which were worn on a hawk’s leg to attach leather jesses. These tags are often inscribed with the owners name, residence or coat of arms [often the coat of arms was placed on the vervel as not all the locals would have been able to read].

Emma-Kate Lanyon, Curator with Shropshire Council’s museums service, said:

“In broad terms a vervel fulfils the same function as modern racing pigeon rings. If a valuable bird was lost whilst hunting it could be identified and returned to the owner. Falconry was a sport for nobility and rings similar to this at the British Museum belonged to King Charles II. The discovery of this example in a field in the adjacent parish to the home of the Earl of Shrewsbury fits well with a loss whilst out enjoying the hunt and gives us a glimpse into the life of a family which has been at the heart of political affairs in the county from medieval times.”

Janet Davies, Head of Regional Liaison & Purchase Grant Fund said:

“We were pleased to help the museum acquire this interesting piece. It’s a good example of how modest items are significant in shedding light on life in the past.”

At the moment museum staff are working to develop the seventeenth century displays for the new Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery which is due to open in 2012. Hopefully, the verval will be displayed here as part of the story of Shropshire during this period.

__________________________________

for the full PAS Treasure report see:

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/269641

for details of the original press release see:

http://newsroom.shropshire.gov.uk/news/2011/03/museum-service-acquires-historic-find/

Three Coin Hoards from North Shropshire

Recent Treasure Finds from Shropshire

Treasure Inquest in Wem, Shropshire.

28^th February 2011

Mr John Ellery, Coroner for North and Mid Shropshire held an inquest today into three separate cases of Treasure recently discovered in North Shropshire. Unusually all these cases related to discoveries of coin hoards dating from the 13^th – 17^th Centuries.

A further discovery at Baschurch, Shropshire.

The initial Baschurch Hoard was reported in 2007, being declared as Treasure in 2009. The Baschurch totalled more than 190 coins from the reign of Henry III. They were deposited in a leather bag sometime after 1265 AD. The hoard was placed on the headland of a field and modern ploughing has spread some of the coins into the adjacent field. The original findspot was excavated in 2007 and all the coins from the main group were recovered and declared treasure. Shropshire County Museum Service acquired the hoard late in 2010 after receiving grants from The V&A Purchase Fund, The Headily Trust and a generous donation from both the Friends of Shrewsbury Museum and The Shropshire Archaeological and History Society.

Mr Ellery heard today of recent discoveries of further groups of medieval pennies from the Baschurch Hoard (2008-T774). This group under inquest represent three significant finds of medieval pennies from the site during 2008 and 2009 totalling a further 35 coins. Dr Barrie Cook (Curator of Medieval and Early Modern Coinage at the British Museum) in his report for the coroner wrote:

All of the new finds are completely consistent with the original ones, which – since the hoard was so unusual – make it certain that they all form part of one single deposit. The highly unusual aspects of the earlier groups are all in evidence among the newer finds: the dominance of Shrewsbury mint coins … and the same disproportionate representation of the four Shrewsbury moneyers [Nicole, Lorenz, Ricard and Peris]. …

All the new finds confirm the impression of the earlier finds in that The hoard probably represents a core of material initially acquired straight from the Shrewsbury mint and exchange… That the find-spot of the hoard is so close to Shrewsbury itself, might suggest that this portion might well have remained in the possession of one original owner. New coins were subsequently added to the Baschurch hoard, either occasionally or else in one batch during the issues of class Vg (1258-65).’

The Baschurch find as a whole, therefore, consists of coins of good silver that would have been in circulation together in the mid to late 1260s. The preponderance of Shrewsbury mint issues makes it essentially impossible that the coins represent anything other than a savings hoard of some kind, since it bears little similarity to the general currency of mid 13^th century England.

Shropshire County Museum Service are hoping to acquire this further group of coins for display at the Music Hall. The original find of coins is currently being conserved and a small selection of these will be displayed at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (Rowley’s House) in the near future.

The third and largest group of coins

Full records, images and further information on the Baschurch Hoard can be found at:

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/431149

http://finds.org.uk/blogs/themarches/2010/08/03/medieval-shrewsbury-coin-declared-treasure/

A late medieval coin hoard from the Oswestry Area.

Hoard of Groats

This second coin hoard was discovered in the Oswestry area by metal detector user Marie Hunt in April 2010 (2010- T321). In this group there were 21 coins with a combined value of 6 shillings and a penny. This most probably represents a large purse loss or possibly a small deliberately hidden savings hoard. In its day it would have represents almost 4 weeks wages for a skilled craftsman. Again Dr Cook examined the coins at the British Museum and in his report for the coroner wrote:

Three denominations are present: 17 examples of the groat of fourpence, one half-groat and three pennies … Most of the coins are from the reign of Edward III, with the three pennies earlier in date, from the coinage of Edward I and II, from after the re-coinage of 1279. There is a single coin of Henry V (1413-22). After 1279 there was no general re-coinage in medieval England, so the presence of this range of coins in a single deposit made in the 15^th century would not in itself be unusual

However, the weight of the coins present gives an interesting picture. Although there was no re-coinage between the reigns of Edward III and Henry V, there was a reduction in the weight standard in 1412 from one based on the penny of 18 grains to one based on the penny of 15 grains. Silver coins circulating after that date are usually clipped down to the new level, yet, although several of the groats of Edward III in this group are indeed clipped, the group nonetheless has a mean weight of 3.99g, 85% of the pre-1412 standard for the groat, but 102% of the post-1412 standard. It looks as though the group represents an assembly of material withdrawn from currency relatively soon after the 1412 reform, perhaps quite early in Henry V’s reign, before the full impact of the change had been absorbed within the currency. It is the case that the bulk of Henry V’s silver coinage was produced between 1413 and 1417. An alternative is that it represents a small selected group of relatively good weight coins. Either explanation is conceivable.

The Oswestry coins are all of good silver and were likely to have been deposited together on one occasion, probably c. 1415.

The Powysland Museum, Welshpool has expressed an interest in acquiring these coins for display.

Full records, images and further information on the Oswestry Hoard can be found at:

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/431153

http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=2117&L=0

http://www.finds.org.uk/medievalcoins/articles/page/valuesedwardIII

A Coin hoard from the reign of Charles I from the Oswestry Area.

The final group of coins under inquest was again found by Marie Hunt in July 2010. They were found in the Oswestry Area and were examined by Dr Cook at the British Museum. They are unusual in that they include a silver gilt medal commemorating the marriage of Charles I. In his report for the coroner Dr Cook wrote:

I have examined a group of silver items reported found at Oswestry, Shropshire. Six of these are coins of the English monarchs Elizabeth I, James I, and Charles I and consist of two sixpences of Elizabeth, two pennies of James and two pennies of Charles … The wear and clipping visible on the coins of Elizabeth makes it probable that they had experienced considerable currency. This would certainly be compatible with the idea that they represent 17^th century deposits: huge quantities of Elizabethan coinage circulated throughout the 17^th century, sixpences above all. It is therefore likely that the Oswestry coins represent a single body of material deposited on one occasion, probably in the early 1630s. The group is also likely to have included the silver medal, since its date is a good match to this scenario. It is not normal to find medals with coins in this way, but a possible explanation is that this small one served as a pocket piece, carried around for luck, as a symbol of loyalty or as even a marital memento, since it commemorates a marriage.

The silver-gilt medal commemorates the marriage of King Charles I to the French princess Henrietta Maria, 1625. These were struck and issued in large quantities. The obverse (head) depicts the portraits of Charles I and Henrietta Maria, under rays from heaven, whereas the reverse shows Cupid with flowers and references the union of the roses of England and lilies of France. The inscription is a modified quote from Virgil’s Aeneid FVNDIT.AMOR.LILIA.MIXTA.ROSIS./.1625. (Love pours out lilies mingled with roses)

Again it is hoped that will acquire the coin group for display in the Powysland Museum, Welshpool.

Full records, images and further information on the Oswestry Hoard can be found at:

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/431164

http://www.powys.gov.uk/index.php?id=2117&L=0

More information about the Portable Antiquities Scheme and Treasure as well as Medieval and Post Medieval coins can be found at

http://www.finds.org.uk/treasure

http://www.finds.org.uk/medievalcoins

Peter Reavill

February 2011

PAS Finds from Shropshire and Herefordshire published in West Midlands Archaeology

Every year the PAS team in the West Midlands are asked to contribute to West Midlands Archaeology, a journal that tries to capture all the archaeological work carried out within the year (see http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbawm/WMA.php). We as a group try and identify objects that are both locally and regionally imporant finds; however we also like to highlight particularly good examples of more common or specific types of find.

The volume that covers 2009 (WMA 52) is currently being edited for publictaion. And we are now starting to think about those finds for 2010.

As some of you may know from reading my reports I have a tendency for writing considerable amounts and therefore this year the editor has published summaries of some the PAS finds in the journal but also published the full text on the CBA West Midlands website

http://www.britarch.ac.uk/cbawm/PAS_finds.php

Rather than copying and pasting these finds on here – I thought I would direct people to have a look at the article over there – all the finds highlighted are really rather impressive and also important. In addition I would also like to thank the finders who made these artefacts available for recording especially as I had to borrow them for longer than usual to have them illustrated

The full PAS records for each find can be found below

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/257919
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/255545
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/263894
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/264493
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/255227
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/267930

Peter Reavill

FLO Shropshire and Herefordshire

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We wish Rod Trevaskus luck as he moves onto pastures new

Jeff Spencer, HER officer for Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust (CPAT) has written a short piece about his volunteer Rod, who after almost four years as a volunteer has decided to move on to pastures new. Rod has worked with Jeff recording artefacts for the PAS from Wrexham Heritage Society and independent metal detector users in Powys and Shropshire.

Jeff Writes:

Rod started volunteering with the PAS in 2007 and as a direct result of his work the annual totals of recorded artefacts by CPAT have virtually doubled with each successive year;

80 in 2007/8,

150 in 2008/9,

260 in 2009/10

and up to August in the 2010/11 financial year his total was already

266!

In addition his enthusiasm for meeting people and talking to them about finds and the PAS have been vital in helping build a strong and positive working relationship with the Wrexham Heritage Society, its members and also local independent metal detectorists, to say nothing of his excellent photographic skills.

Before working with us he had successful careers in the RAF and in banking in the Far East, from which he had to retire due to ill health.

The following are good examples of some of his records on the PAS database:

CPAT-446CE7

PAS record number: CPAT-446CE7
Object type: Seal matrix
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
County of discovery: Powys
Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/236047

CPAT-E87263

PAS record number: CPAT-E87263
Object type: Harness Fitting
Broadperiod: IRON AGE
County of discovery: Shropshire
Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/238280

CPAT-FE6537

PAS record number: CPAT-FE6537
Object type: Token
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
County of discovery: Shropshire
Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/238299

CPAT-5486C1

PAS record number: CPAT-5486C1
Object type: AXEHEAD
Broadperiod: BRONZE AGE
County of discovery: Denbighshire
Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/399510

CPAT-227A56

PAS record number: CPAT-227A56
Object type: Coin
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
County of discovery: Powys
Stable url: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/259849

Both Jeff and I wish Rod a very happy second (or is it third) retirement and thank him most sincerely for all his hard work for the PAS. His commitment has made a huge difference to the PAS locally and he will be missed.

Jeff Spencer and Peter Reavill

A full list of finds recorded by Rod can be found here

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/search/results/recorderID/00146B1E1CE0181E/

which can be mapped here

http://www.finds.org.uk/database/search/map/recorderID/00146B1E1CE0181E

View Larger Map

Medieval Shrewsbury Coin Declared Treasure

Mr John Ellery, coroner for North Shropshire, today (3-8-2010) found that this single silver penny of Henry III (see link below) was part of the much larger Baschurch hoard. As such Mr Ellery declared that this was Treasure in accordance with the Treasure Act 1996. Shropshire County Museum Service has expressed an interest in this coin and as such it will be valued by the Treasure Valuation Committee (TVC). The TVCs valuation will then be offered as a reward to the finder and landowner.

A display of the Baschurch hoard is planned for the New Year at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (Rowley’s House), after which it will form part of the redisplayed medieval gallery at the new museum (Music Hall) in Shrewsbury.

This new addition to the Baschurch hoard is a silver penny of Henry III, Class IIIb, struck by the moneyer, Nicole at the Shrewsbury Mint. 1248-1250 (North 987). Very little is known about the Shrewsbury mint. We do not know where it was based but it has been suggested that it was within the town castle complex. This would make sense as value of the bullion, coins and more importantly the dies for making the coins would have needed a lot of protection and security. A building known as The Old Mint (Bennet’s Hall) on Pride Hill, Shrewsbury is likely to refer to the site of the civil war mint rather than this much older example. The names of the moneyers are recorded as Richard (Ricard) Pride, Nicholas (Nicole), son of Ives, Laurence (Lorenz) Cox, and Peter (Peris) son of Clement. It is highly unlikely that these were actually the people who made the coins; they were more likely to be the foremen who were in charge and were responsible for a team of workmen.

As Dr Cook suggests in his report coins from Shrewsbury are relatively rare, they represent a very small fraction of all the coins of this period. For example, the PAS database has recorded only 3 complete Shrewsbury pennies and three further cut fractions. When this is compared to the long cross pennies of Henry III on the database (over 1500) this is a tiny proportion (0.4 %). There have been no discoveries of Shrewsbury based coins of this period from Shropshire, which makes this group even more interesting. In the major study of the Shrewsbury coins John Brand suggests that £7167 were struck at Shrewsbury by the four moneyers. This equals the equivalent of 1,720,080 pence, which is a phenomenal number of coins. The fact that very few survive and are found today would suggest that medieval recycling of currency was extremely effective and that the medieval people were especially careful with their silver money.

The original discovery of the Baschurch Hoard was made in 2007 by a metal detectorist. I wrote a short article on this for The Searcher which is attached to this blog as a PDF. My article is based in large part on the excellent Treasure report produced by Dr Barrie Cook of the British Museum.

Baschurch Coin Hoard, originally published in The Searcher

Follow link below for PAS record:

PAS record number: HESH-4AA683
Object type: Coin
Broadperiod: MEDIEVAL
County of discovery: Shropshire
Stable url: http://finds.org.uk/database/artefacts/record/id/251501

See the link below for other coins of Henry III struck in Shrewsbury between 1248-1250 AD:
http://www.finds.org.uk/database/search/results/objecttype/coin/broadperiod/Medieval/ruler/204/mint/194

and a link to the results mapped: http://www.finds.org.uk/database/search/map/objecttype/coin/broadperiod/Medieval/ruler/204/mint/194 or a map embedded in the page:

View Larger Map

The FLO with BATs – part of the Festival of British Archaeology

On Wednesday (21/7/10) as part of the Festival of British Archaeology, Peter Reavill (Finds Liaison Officer for the PAS) went to Bitterley C of E Primary School to look at some of the children’s finds. Bitterley School have an active out of hours archaeology club called BATs (Bitterley Archaeology Team) run by June Buckard. The BATs are made up of children from both years 5 and 6. They have been studying their village and looking at its rich medieval history, especially a deserted medieval village close by. The children had found a large selection of medieval pottery and with some help from local metal detectorists some metal finds, including a Key and a 14th century box mount. Peter led a session with the class using an archaeological handling collection from nearby Ludlow Museum Resource Centre. The children looked at lots of medieval pottery, as well as some comparable Roman and Modern pot sherds. The BATs also showed off their new found skills by sorting three big bags of pottery into Roman, Medieval and Modern piles.The thing they liked best was the fact that they could put their fingers into the thumb impressions made by potters hundreds of years ago.

It is hoped that a wider project to look at the medieval landscape history of the village of Bitterley can be organised for next year, the BATs will be at the centre of this keeping professionals like Peter on their toes.

The contacts for the school are:
Bitterley CE Primary School
admin@bitterley.shropshire.sch.uk
Bitterley CE Primary School,
Nr Ludlow
Shropshire
SY8 3HF

PAS in the Marches – New Blog for what’s going on in Shropshire and Herefordshire

Hi, I’m Peter Reavill, Finds Liaison Officer with the PAS covering Shropshire and Herefordshire

Like many FLOs I will be trying to keep people up to date with some news stories from my part of the world, whether it is interesting new finds recently reported or events that I take part in. I’ll also try and post finds days and other things that I think people might be interested in. Anyway I’m new to all this technology so please excuse any mistakes as things get started. I’ll try and keep this relatively well updated but as I get more and more swamped with finds my good intentions may slip.

Will be writing again soon

Peter